Envelop



2 QM A M 0 H m B B Patented May 18, 1897.

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Patented May 18, l897.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFT E.

BENJAMIN B. THOMAS, OF MIDDLETON, TENNESSEE.

ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,835, dated May 18, 1897.

Application filed December 14, 1896. Serial No- 615,633. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middleton, in the county of Hardeman and State of Tennessee,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is the production of an envelop which can be manufactured at comparatively little cost and which will be so constructed as to prevent the surreptitious examination of the contents without tearing or otherwise mutilating the envelop.

To accomplish this object, my invention consists in providing a row of stitches around the four edges of the envelop, having the appearance of a continuous lock-stitch passing entirely through both sides, but as a matter of fact leaving one side open for the reception of the contents, and which may be concealed and obscured by its similarity in appearance with that of the other sides of the envelop.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my envelop. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the seal edge held slightly open. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. at represents a rear elevation, partly broken away, of a modified form of my improved envelop; and Fig. 5 represents a similar view of another form of my said improved envelop.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate two rectangular pieces of paper or other material superimposed, and 3 indicates a row of stitches parallel .to each edge and passing entirely through both layers of the envelop along three of its edges. Along the fourth edge, which I shall denominate the seal edge 5 of the envelop, the stitches instead of passing through both layers 1 and 2 pass only through one of said layers, two separate rows of blind stitches being of course required to accomplish this result. The layer 2 is provided along the seal edge with a flap 4, which is gummed and is designed to be turned in, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and to which the seal edge of the other layer is designed to be glued. The appearance of all four edges of the envelop when sealed is precisely the same, there being in each instance the two edges of the layers and the adjacent row of stitches, so similar in appearance that an expert will be unable to determine the seal edge from any other and will necessarily leave some evidence of his depredation in the event of an attempt to tamper with the contents of the latter.

I do not desire to limit myself to the details of construction herein shown and described, but reserve to myself the right to change and modify or vary them at will within the scope of my invention.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 4 I have provided an ordinary form of envelop with stitches fastening three sides of the same to secure the layers together and blind stitches mounted in the front and the sealing-flap. This form also includes stitches along the lower closing-flap and through the same and the lower edges of the end closingflap. In the forms shown in Fig. 5 the stitches along the edges of the lower closingflap and the side closing-flaps are omitted. It will be seen that in either of the constructions disclosed by Figs. 4 and 5 the sealingflap is secured down by gum or glue in the usual manner, but still has the appearance of being sewed down in position. In order to open this form of envelop, it is necessary to tear along the line of the blind stitches in the sealing-flap.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In an envelop, the combination with a pair of correspondinglyshaped layers, of stitches uniting said layers upon three sides, blind stitches along the fourth edge of each of the layers, and means for sealing the edges along which the blind stitches are located, substantially as described.

2. In an envelop, the combination with two correspondingly shaped layers, a row of stitches securing the edges of three sides of the layers, a row of blind stitches along the fourth edge of the layers and a gummed sealing-fiap for closing the edges along which the blind stitches ext-end.

3. In an envelop, the combination with a gether to close the fourth side of the envelop IO pair of correspondingly-shaped layers, of without their presence being detected. stitches uniting said layers along three sides, In testimony whereof I have signed this blind stitches along the fourth edge of each specification in the presence of two subscrib- 5 of said layers, and a gumnied sealing-flap in g witnesses.

connected to each edge along which the blind BENJAMIN l3. THOMAS. stitches extend and projecting downward into Vitnesses: the envelop; the construction bcin g such that \V. Y. \VEBB,

the said gumined flaps may be brought to- R. l MCCOMMON. 

